Decorative device



Aug.25, 1936. A. SIMEONE DECORATIVE DEVICE Filed Dec. 1, 1955 Patented Aug. 25, 1936 UNITED s'r -A rss DECORATIVE DEVICE Adolph Simeone, Somervil-le, Mass, assignor to V T. J. Edwards Inc., Boston, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 1, 1933, Serial No. 700,406. 9 Claims. (Cl. 240-10) The present invention relates to decorative de vices and more particularly to, a device adapted to. be secured to a window pane or other surface for supporting an illuminating device.

At Christmas time it iscommon tov see. candles or candle-simulating devices displayed inthe windowsof houses, shops, andother buildings. These candles and the imitations thereof generally are placed on window sills or the floor of shop display windows. The candle-simulating devices. comprise a series of tubular members imitating candle bodies and are surmounted at their tops, with light bulbs- These devices are decorative, but. their utility is limited by the fact that they must be supported from below, that the tubular members are secured togethernonadjustably as a unit and therefore always present the same appearance,and that they are not adapted for use with windows of varying sizes. In addition, these devices are expensive and require a relatively large packing space when stored since they cannot be folded up. I

Accordingly, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a unitary decorative illuminating device of a type Suitable 'for use duringthe Christmas season, which iscompact, inexpensive, easily handled, capable of being folded up so, that it will occupy but a small ,packing space, and at the same time adapted to be opened up so as to present a variety of pleasing decorative effects, either when used alone or with one or more duplicate units. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device of this type which may-be affixed directly to a window pane or other vertical surfaceand thus be more'prominently displayed than illuminating devices resting on a. base such as a window sill To the accomplishment of these objects, and 4 such others as may appear hereinafter, the various features of the present invention reside in certain devices, combinations, and arrangements of parts fully set forth hereinafter and; then pointed out in the. appended claims, possessing advantages which will be readily apparent to those skilled in this. art. p

The various features of the present invention will be readily understood from an inspection of the accompanying drawing illustrating the best 50 form of the invention at present known tothe inventor, in whi h, 1 f l V Figurefl! is, a View in front elevation showing the present invention afiixed to, a window pane Fig. 2, is a view in] front elevation showing the 55 present invention folded 11 5 Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 3,.3 of Fig. 1, but showing the light bulb and socket standing upright; and

Fig. 4 is a detail view in plan showing the slabbed off wings and the hinging of the arms. The illustrated embodiment of the present inventionis provided with a pair. of channel-shaped arms '6 and I (Fig. 1) each of which comprises a web 8 and wings 9 and [I] (Figs. 3 and 4). As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the arms. 6 and I are 10 hinged together, and for this purpose the adja: cent ends of the webs 8 are extended to form tongues ll and I2, respective1y,.adapted to dovetail (Fig. 4). The tongues arecurved under to form eyes for receiving a pin l3 which is upset at 5 each end when in position so that the arms are hingdlyiconnected together.

As best shown in Fig. 1, the hinged arms are adapted to receive and support a plurality of electric light bulbs M with their sockets I5 and connected wiring It such asare sold commercially for Christmas tree decorations. The bulbs I4 preferably simulate the appearance of a candle flame. The wings 9 and lil areeach provided with a number of integral spaced extensions or fins I l, so. arranged that the fins on the wing 9 of each arm are oppositely disposed to the fins on the wing ltthereof. With this. construction each oppositely disposed pair of fins l1 comprises a pair of jaws adapted to grip and hold between them a socket I5. The portion of each socket adapted to be gripped by the fins I1 is. preferably octagonal, as shown, since this construction is easily handled and provides flat surfaces, for the fins, ll to grip; The illustrated embodiment of the present invention is shownas providedwith eight pairs, of fins lfl.

The bulbs l4,- the Sockets [5, and their connectedwiring it are positioned in the channelshaped arms as shown in Fig. 1. The wings 9 and IE! of each arm, by reason of the channel they formwith the webj8, conceal the wiring l6, and theffijns if! merely grip the sockets IS without otherwise securing them so that they may be adjusted in a variety of. positionaras desired. When the present invention is in use, the wiring is is. exposed to View only at the hinge joining the arms 6 and I and at the free end of the arm I from which. the remainder of the wiring extends for connection to a plug 18.

The present invention is designed, to be affixed to awind'ow pane l9. (Fig 1,)' or other smooth surface. .Tothis end the present invention contemplates. the use of suction cups20 adapted to adhere to a surface bysuction when pressed against it and provided with a partially embedded bolt 2| (Fig. 3) as is well understood. For connecting the suction cups 2!) to the arms 6 and 1, each arm is provided with a bracket 22 (Fig. 3) one end 23 of which is bent at right angles and is provided with an opening 24 through which the threaded end of the bolt 2| passes for securement by means of a nut 25.

The opposite end 26 .of each bracket 22 is secured to the web 8 of its respective arm in a manner best shown in Fig. 3. The end 26 is partially punched out as indicated at 21 and 28 so as to form two studs 29 adapted to project through holes 30 located in the web 8 preferably intermediate its ends. The studs 29 are upset against the web as shown in Fig. 3, thereby securing the bracket and the arm firmly together. By placing the holes 30 intermediate the ends of each arm, the brackets 22 are centered relatively tothe weight of the arms, thereby providing that the present invention is balanced properly when the cups 20 are aifixed to a pane I 9 or other surface.

The wings 9 and I need only be wide enough to conceal the Wiring l6 and give support to the fins I1. Examination of Fig. 2 shows that the cups 20 are considerably wider than the wings, or to state this another way, that the cups are wider than the arms 6 and 1 are thick, taking the web 8 and the Wings 9 and ll] of each arm as a unit. Since the arms may be folded together with their webs only slightly spaced apart (Fig. 2), the present invention is provided with means for maintaining the cups 2!] out of engagement when the arms are so folded.

This result is effected by providing each bracket 22 adjacent its end 26 with a double bend 3| (Fig. 3) extending sufiiciently upward so that the remainder of the bracket is ofiset from the plane of the bracket end 26. With this construction the suction cup 20 lies entirely above the plane of the bracket end 26, viewing Fig. 3. By securing the brackets 22 to the arms in the same relative positions, the bracket ends 26 engage each other when the arms are folded together and the cups 20 remain out of engagement, as shown in Fig. 2. It is realized that this same result could be easily obtained by merely staggering the brackets 22, that is, by placing one of them nearer the hinging than the other. Such a construction would render the double bend 3| unnecessary, for the cups 20 would not then engage each other regardless of how near together the arms '6 and I might be. It is preferred, however, to have each bracket 22 extend centrally of its arm in the manner shown for the reason, as stated above, that the weight of the present invention will then be evenly distributed above and below the brackets and the structure will be balanced when in use.

It will be apparent that the present invention comprises a unit which may be secured to a window pane H! or other smooth surface as shown in Fig. I by merely pressing the cups 20 against the pane so that the air is exhausted from the cups. By reason of the hinging of the arms 6 and 1, they may be positioned as shown in Fig. 1 or they may be swung so as to increase or decrease the angle between them. In any position of adjustment of the arms, the flame-simulating bulbs [4 should stand upright. The various bulb positions indicated in Fig. 1 are shown as they are merely to illustrate the point that the sockets I may be adjusted between the fins IT in a variety of. positions.

It will be apparent that when the present invention is secured to a window pane as shown in Fig. 1, but with the bulbs l4 standing upright, an observer from without will receive the impression of viewing a graded series of eight lighted candles, the two in the center being the tallest and the two forming the ends being the shortest. When the arms are swung through an arc of 180, the impression will be of candles of equal length.

The variety of the decorative efiects can be enlarged by associating together two or more of the units disclosed. By placing the hinged ends of two units together, and adjusting the respective arms through an arc of 90, a flaming cross can be simulated. By placing the free ends of the arms of two units together, a square or diamond shaped appearance can be produced. By use of. more than two of the disclosed units, stars and other geometric figures can be produced.

In case the window is a long one, several units may be used side by side, thereby presenting the appearance of several series of candles of graded heights.

If the end edges of the wings 9 and I0 adacent the hinged ends of the webs 8 were normal to the webs, the arms 6 and 1 could be swung apart only slightly more than 180, for the wing ends would engage each other and so prevent a further swinging. It is desirable, however, that the arms be capable of movement through an are greater than 180. Stated in another way, whereas Fig. 1 shows the present invention in use in inverted V position, it is desirable for decorative purposes that the present invention be capable of use in upright V position.

To this end the end edges of the wings 9 and I0 adjacent the hinging are slabbed off as indicated at 32 and 33, respectively, (Figs. 1, 2 and 4), so that the arms 6 and I may be swung into upright V position. Since it is desirable that the bulbs [4 should not strike each other when the arms are swung through more than 180 the angularity of the slabbed off end edges 32 and 33 is such that these edges engage to prevent further swinging before the bulbs l4 contact each other. With this construction, it is apparent that the arms 6 and I may be folded together as shown in Fig. 2, or swung apart through an are somewhat less than 360".

It is true that the present invention might be afiixed to a pane l9 in upright V position simply by turning it around from its Fig. 1 position without moving the arms 6 and 1 relatively to each other. But this procedure would cause the wall plug 18 to extend to the left, viewing Fig. 1, instead of to the right, as shown, and this might cause difficulty if the place of use did not have a convenient electric plug socket to the left of the pane I9. The slabbed off end edges 32 and 33, by permitting a swinging of the arms 6 and 1 through an arcconsiderably greater than 180, provide that the wiring l6 and the plug l8 always extend from the same side regardless of th position of the arms.

The illustrated embodiment of the present invention is easily handled and may be folded up compactly. For household and shop Window purposes the hinged arms 6 and I, when folded as shown in Fig. 2, may conveniently be 13% inches long. Viewing Fig. 3, the distance from the wing to the mouth of the cup may be 2 inches. With such dimensions the structure shown may be easily packed or displayed in a box measuring 14 by 2%, by 3 inches. The fins l1 grip the sockets l5 so Securely that the bulbs [4 may be replaced without removing the sockets from the fins. But on the other hand, since the fins merely grip the sockets, they may be easily shifted angularly with respect to the arms from a position of use shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2, ready to be packed away, or they may be removed entirely.

What is claimed as new, is:

1. In a decorative device, the combination with a plurality of arms pivotally connected together, an illuminating device for each arm, means integral with each arm providing a support in which the illuminating device is shiftable angularly with respect to the arm independently of the position thereof, and suction cups adapted to be affixed to a surface, of members secured to at least two of the arms, respectively, for connecting the respective suction cups thereto.

2. In a decorative device, the combination with a plurality of arms pivotally connected together, an electric illuminating device comprising at least one bulb for each arm, a socket for each bulb, and connected wiring, means integral with each arm providing a sup-port in which the socket is shiftable angularly with respect to the arm independently of the position thereof, means carried by the arms for concealing the wiring substantially throughout the length of the arms, and suction cups adapted to be affixed to a surface, of members secured to at least two of the arms, respectively, for connecting the respective suction cups thereto.

3. In a decorative device, the combination with a plurality of arms pivotally connected together, an electric illuminating device comprising at least one bulb for each arm, a socket for each bulb provided with oppositely disposed faces, and connected wiring, means provided with oppositely disposed faces adapted to engage the socket faces frictionally for pivotally securing the sockets to the arms, means carried by the arms for concealing the wiring substantially throughout the length of the arms, and suction cups adapted to be affixed to a surface, of members secured to at least two of the arms, respectively, for connecting the respective suction cups thereto.

4. In a decorative device, the combination with a plurality of arms pivotally connected together, each arm comprising a web and a pair of wings, an illuminating device for each arm, and means extending from the respective wings of each arm substantially in the plane thereof providing a support in which the illuminating device is shiftable angularly with respect to the arm independently of the position thereof, of members connected to at least two of the arms, respectively, for securing'the arms to a surface, said members being each provided with a suction cup and being secured to the arms in such location thereon that the weight of the device is evenly distributed on either side of the suction cups'when they are affixed to a surface.

5. In a decorative device, the combination with a plurality of channel-shaped arms, each comprising a web and a pair of wings, pivotally connected so that they may be swung into and out of substantial juxtaposition, an electric illuminating device comprising a plurality of bulbs, sockets therefor, and connected wiring, said wings being adapted to conceal the wiring substantially throughout the length of the arms, means carried by the wings for pivotally supporting the sockets, and suction cups, wider than the wings,

adapted to be affixed to a surface, of members secured to at least two of the arms, respectively, for connecting the respective suction cups thereto, said members being shaped to hold the suction cups spaced apart when the arms are substantially juxtaposed.

6. In a decorative device, the combination with a plurality of arms, each comprising a web and a pair of wings, pivotally connected so that they may be swung into and out of substantial juxtaposition, means for limiting the swinging of the arms to an arc of less than 360, an electric i1- luminating device comprising a plurality of bulbs, sockets therefor, and connectedwiring, said wings being adapted to conceal the wiring substantially throughout the length of the arms, means carried by the wings for pivotally supporting the sockets, and suction cups, wider than the wings, adapted to be afilxed to a surface, of members secured to at least two of the arms, respectively, for connecting the respective suction cups thereto, said members comprising portions which are in engagement when the arms are substantially juxtaposed and cup-holding portions which are offset to maintain the cups out of engagement when the first named portions are engaged.

7. In a decorative device, the combination with a plurality of arms, each comprising a web and a pair of wings, pivotally connected so that they may be swung into and out of substantial juxtaposition, means for limiting the swinging of the arms to an arc of less than 360, an electric illuminating device including a plurality of bulbs, sockets therefor each of which is provided with oppositely disposed faces, and connected wiring,

said wings being adapted to conceal the wiring a substantially throughout the length of the arms, projections carried by the wings in oppositely disposed relation adapted to engage the socket faces frictionally for pivotally securing the sockets to the arms, and suction cups, wider than the wings, adapted to be affixed to a surface, of members secured to at least two of the arms, respectively, for connecting the respective suction cups thereto, said members comprising portions which are in engagement when the arms are substantially juxtaposed and cup-holding portions which are offset to maintain the cups out of engagement when the first named portions are engaged.

8. In a decorative device, the combination with a channel-shaped arm comprising a web and a pair of wings, means for securing the arm to a surface, and a plurality of illuminating devices; of means carried by the wings, respectively, substantially in the plane thereof for supporting by a merely frictional gripping each illuminating device in any one of a plurality of positions independently ofthe position of the arm and also independently of the position of the other illuminating devices.

9. In a decorative device, the combination with a channel-shaped arm comprising a web and a pair of flat wings, means for securing the arm to a surface, and a plurality of illuminating devices each having a socket provided with oppositely dissupporting the sockets by a merely frictional gripping .in any one of a plurality of positions independently with respect to each other and also independently with respect to the arm.

ADOLPI-I SIMEONE. 

